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Mar 14, 2014
Hello From ZimmComm World Headquarters:

The ZimmComm Team is enjoying a break in the ag event action. That will be changing soon though as we near Ag Day activities in Washington, DC. We're hearing more reports of temperatures getting warmer so spring is just around the corner.

Speaking of events, there are several that we're looking for sponsors for our coverage. These include: Agricultural Relations Council Annual Mtg. in June; International Conference on Precision Ag in July; AgChat Conference in August; International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress in Scotland in September. Please contact Dave or Chuck for more information. And if you've got your own event or field day you'd like us to cover please let us know if we can add it to our schedule.

This year ZimmComm New Media is celebrating 10 Golden Years during the 2014 Agri-Marketing Conference in Jacksonville, FL. We're making plans to have a golden time with friends and clients and some special activity in our Connection Point booth. If you haven't registered for the conference yet, please get it done asap (early deadline is March 20). Think of how cold you've been this winter. Wouldn't you like some time in the Florida sunshine? Let's make this a huge agricultural marketing event this year. Invite your colleagues and friends in the business to come on down to our home territory!

Do you have the AgWired App for your iOS or Android device? If not, please download. It's free. Big thanks go out to iCropTrak for continuing their sponsorship of the app!

There was an announcement this week of the formation of the Open Ag Data Alliance project. We'd love to know what you think. You can do so via our new ZimmPoll.

The Open Ag Data Alliance (OADA), an open standards software project to ensure farmers have full data access, security and privacy, has officially been launched with the goal of enabling farmers to have flexibility and control over data-driven decisions on their farm. What do you think about it? Do you think there is a need for this - or do you even understand it at all? Let us know!

Here are some interviews/audio from this week you might have missed:


Now for some news from the ZimmComm News Network:
Sponsored by:
Growmark 
 AgWired  AgWired     
 
Smart Stories from New Holland

We've probably all heard the phrase, "New Holland Smart," in the company's marketing campaigns the past few years. Now New Holland has taken the concept a step further with a new campaign that kicked off last month called, "Smart Stories." MORE
 

ZimmCast 


NCGA CEO to Retire

After 14 years of leading the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), CEO Rick Tolman has decided it's time to retire - so take a good look at this photo here because it was the last Commodity Classic for Rick as CEO. MORE
  

Ag Leaders Set to Speak at Indoor Ag Conf.

The second annual Indoor Agriculture Conference, May 14 - 15, 2014, not only highlights some of the industry's top technological advances, it also offers attendees access to its top professionals. Speaking on subjects ranging from window farming to food security and lighting systems, the Indoor Agriculture Conference features two full days of education on controlled environment technologies, aero/hydro/aquaponic best practices and business models, automated nutrient systems, future trends, and financing options at the renowned Las Vegas Springs Preserve Desert Living Center. MORE
DomesticFuel  Domestic Fuel 

Biodiesel Board Pleased with CARB Findings

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is pleased with the preliminary Indirect Land Use Change (iLUC) values presented by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) at a workshop on Tuesday. MORE

Podcast  

Aruba to Get Methes Energies Biodiesel Maker

A biodiesel producer on the tropical island of Aruba is going to the Great White North to get its biodiesel maker. Ontario-based Methes Energies International Ltd. is building a Denami 600 for Antilla Energy VBA (formally known as BioFuel Aruba) to brew biodiesel from local waste cooking oil. MORE 

Vestas Becomes World Wind Leader, Adds US Jobs

 
Danish wind turbine builder and installer Vestas has become the world's leader in wind energy installation, while adding jobs right here in the U.S. The company says it installed 13.2 percent of all wind energy in 2013, nearly a third more than its closest competitor. And this record-setting year for Vestas prompted the company to hire about 400 workers at its Colorado factories, with another 450 expected to be hired this year. MORE
 
 
 Precision Pays

Today's Farmer CEOs Reshaping Ag

The recent Bayer CropScience Ag Issues forum featured a panel of young farmers who really gave some insight into what it takes to run a modern farm.  MORE

Podcast  

Open Ag Data Alliance Launched

The Climate Corporation and several agricultural stakeholders today officially launched the Open Ag Data Alliance (OADA), an open standards software project to ensure farmers have full data access, security and privacy.MORE

Podcast

 New Soil Health Toolbox Evaluates Plant Nutrients

 

Now, labs can test soil health more accurately with a new Soil Health Nutrient Toolbox from Woods End Laboratories in Mt. Vernon, Maine. MORE    

 


 
  

  

Ag Groups and Grassley on Japan's TPP Offer          


The 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations are drawing to a conclusion, but Japan wants to exclude a number of agricultural products as part of a final agreement. MORE

Podcast

Update on Ukraine Agriculture


The unrest in Ukraine is causing some uncertainty in the agricultural sector, according to US-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) president and CEO Morgan Williams. MORE
  

USDA Announces Small Farmer Help              


During an appearance at the National Farmers Union (NFU) convention today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new and expanded efforts to connect smaller farmers and ranchers with USDA resources that can "help them build stronger businesses, expand to reach new and larger markets, and grow their operations." MORE
  



WDDMark 
 World Dairy Diary  

   

  

Family Day at the Dairy Farm Rescheduled                    

  

North Florida residents can get an inside look at how dairy farms produce milk at the 2014 Family Day at the Dairy Farm, a free open-house event presented by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences with support from Florida Dairy Farmers. The event will be now be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. at the UF/IFAS dairy farm in Hague and is open to the public.  MORE 

Alta Seed Offers Forage Growers Additional Savings

 

Planting forage sorghum can save growers money in a number of ways, but a new promotion from Alta Seeds is increasing the savings. Growers can now benefit from lower input costs and improved water efficiency while taking advantage of an offer for a free bag of seed. For a limited time, growers may receive one free bag of forage seed with the brachytic dwarf. MORE 
   

More Assistance from Cooperatives Working Together  

  
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 12 requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Tillamook County Creamery Association and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell 912,714 pounds of Cheddar and Gouda cheese, 1.355 million pounds of 82% butter and 606,271 pounds of whole milk powder to customers in Asia, Central America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the South Pacific. The product will be delivered March through August 2014. MORE 
Contact Information
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1507 Templemore Dr.
Cantonment, FL 32533
850-780-6617 office
850-308-1221 fax
email: news@agwired.com (inquiries/news releases/announcements)
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